Relationship Between Blood Lactate and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers Following Acute Exercise

We measured blood lactate, protein carbonyls (PC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) before and immediately after exercise (graded exercise treadmill test [GXT], Wingate cycle sprint, barbell squat, and barbell bench press) in active men. Data were analyzed using a 4 (exercise mode) x 2 (time) ANOVA with Tukey post hoc testing, and pairwise correlations were made. An interaction was noted for lactate (p = 0.009), with values increasing for all modes, and higher post exercise for bench press compared to Wingate and squat (p<0.05). No interaction or exercise mode effect was noted for PC or MDA (p>0.05). However, a time effect was noted for PC (p = 0.02), with values increasing from pre to post exercise. A positive correlation was noted between PC and MDA (r = 0.30; p = 0.0004), however no significant correlations were noted between PC and lactate (r = 0.06; p = 0.51) or between MDA and lactate (r = 0.10; p = 0.22). Blood lactate measured during the immediate post exercise period was not significantly correlated to biomarkers of oxidative stress in active men.